Stitch regulating mechanism



June 6, 1950 E. sT. PIERRE 2,510,916

STITCH REGULATING MECHANISM Filed May 28, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 :Qnw

[Air/5151702 I EUENEJZ'HEEL! June 6, 1950 E. ST. PIERRE 2,510,916

STITCH REGULATING MECHANISM Filed May 28, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 274 NEST)? June 6, 1950 E. ST. PIERRE STITCH REGULATING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet C5 Filed May 28, 1949 mill 70R. 51165465 SIB/E1855 Patented June 6, 1950 STITCH REGULATING MECHANISM Eugene St. Pierre, Pawtucket, R. I., assignor to Hemphill Company, Central Falls, R. I., a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 28, 1949, Serial No. 96,037

4 Claims.

This application relates to a stitch regulating mechanism for a circular, independent needle, knitting machine. As hereinafter shown and described, the invention is applicable to a circular, independent needle, knitting machine of the Banner multi-feed, split foot type. However, there is no intention of limiting it to a machine of that type since it can be used on other machines having the same general knitting characteristics.

As is well known, it is essential when knitting sheer hosiery on a multi-feed machine that the loops knitted of the several yarns be of exactly the same length if uniform fabric is to be obtained and that such exactness must be maintained through any alterations in loop length which may be required throughout the leg and instep. One way of obtaining variations in loop length is by altering the vertical position of the knitting cams with respect to the sinkers and this invention relates to a device for this purpose by which the desired equality of loop length for the leg can be obtained and maintained even though the required loop length for the instep necessitates a different setting of the cam block and in which the leg and instep settings are wholly independent of the requirements of the high splice heel, sole and toe.

In principle, the device is similar to that of copending application #787,520, filed November 22, 1947, in which each knitting cam block is supported at different times by different ones of a series of plungers, the effectiveness of each of which is dependent upon the presence of a cam beneath it, such cams being mounted upon a pattern drum and being movable into and out of engagement with its particular plunger in a predetermined seq-uence and timing. By means of an adjusting screw interposed between each plunger and its related cam block, the height of the block when supported by any given plunger and cam can be established.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a stitch regulating device in which this invention is included:

Fig. 2 is a detailed view partly in section or" a plunger and associated parts;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a difi'erent arrangement of plungers and associated parts and of certain features of the operating mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a plan view partly in section of certain features of Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of an auxiliary cam block adjusting device; and

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the same device in another position.

Assume that the machine is a, split foot machine provided with vertical movable main and auxiliary cam block plates (not shown) and that these plates are adjustably connected to the stitch regulating mechanism through suitable connections indicated by the lug I and the arm 2 respectively (Fig. 1) both of which are attached to the stitch regulating mechanism proper which is generally indicated by the numeral 3. As fully described in the copending application referred to, this mechanism consists of a series of vertically movable, equally spaced plungers 4 with each of which a screw 5 is engageable. Each of screws 5 is threaded into a block 6 which is vertically movable and to which lug l is attached. If lug I is operatively connected to the main cam plate, as will be assumed herein, it will be evident that the block maybe caused to assume difierent positions through the operation of one or anotherof plungers 4. Each of these plungers is also provided with a projection 1 so positioned as to underlie a screw 8 threaded into a block 9 forming a part of a second slide to which arm 2 is attached and through which, by virtue of suitable connections between arm 2 and a cam plate assumed herein to be that of the auxiliary cams, the position of this plate can be adjusted in a similar manner.

Below plungers 4 is a pattern drum I!) which may be periodically moved by the well known pawl and ratchet mechanism (not shown) ordinarily associated with such a drum. This drum may carry a series of cams aligned with the respective plungers 4 whereby each plunger may be engaged at predetermined times and thus made rigid and capable of supporting the weight of one or both of the cam plates and blocks. There must be at all times a cam under at least one plunger so that at all times each cam block has a positive support. All of the above is fully described in the co-pending application referred to and is only incidental to the present invention.

In the application of the invention described herein, the invention is shown in relation to the two right plungers II and I2. Plunger H, which is shown in detail in Fig. 2, is generally similar to plunger 4. In other Words, it is operatively connected to the main cam plate through block 6 and a screw l3 and also is provided with a projection l which normally underlies a screw 8 in block 9. However, this screw 8 has been removed so that slide II is not operatively associated with the auxiliary cam plate. In addition, plunger II is provided with another projection M with which a screw I5 is adapted to engage.

Screw I5 forms a part oi. the mechanism associated with plunger I2 as will hereinafter be described. As in the case of the plungers 4, plunger I I overlies drum I and beneath it a cam or cams I 6 can be positioned thus supplying a support for plunger II and, consequently, a support for the main cam plate and block.

Plunger I2 is a part of the support for the auxiliary cam plate which also includes projection I1, a screw 8a in block 9, arm 2 and the connections already mentioned. However, unlike plunger II, the lower end of which is adapted to be directly engaged by a cam I6 on drum III, the lower end of plunger I2 is provided with a projection I8 through which is threaded a master screw I which is adapted to engage with a projection 20 of another underlying plunger 2| which, as shown in Fig. 3, is engageable by cams 22 on drum I0.

In addition, plunger 2| is provided with a projection 23 which is offset so as to overlie projection I4 of plunger II so that screw I5 already mentioned and which is threaded through the offset 23, can engage projection I4. Through this arrangement plunger I2 may be controlled through plunger II as well as through plunger 2| as described above.

On plunger I2 there is mounted a bracket 24 upon which is pivoted a lever 25 terminating in a wedge 26. Lever 25 is so positioned and proportioned that wedge 26 can be swung between; the upper end of plunger I2 and a screw 21 in block 6 so as to lengthen, in effect, plunger I2. Means for inserting and moving wedge 26 in this way may consist of an arm 28 which may be integral with lever 25 and a pivoted lever 29 one end of which is engageable with arm 28. The other end of this lever is swingably associated. with a collar 30 on a rod 3| pivotally connected to arm 32 of a sleeve 33 which is mounted upon; shaft 34. Sleeve 33 is also provided with a rocker 35 which is engageable by a, cam 36 on a drum 31. Whenever rocker 35 rides upon cam 36, rod 3|, collar 30, lever 29 and arm 28 will be moved to swing wedge 26 out of its position between the upper end of plunger I2 and screw 21. Wedge 26 is operated in the other direction by a spring 38.

It will be noted that the screw 21 is offset from the top of plunger I2 so that there can be no connection between them except through wedge 26.

The device as arranged in the drawings may be used for the control of the length of loops of which the leg of a stocking is knitted at the main and auxiliary cam blocks and for also controlling the lengths of loops of the high splice and sole knitted at the main block of a different yarn and the length of the corresponding instep loops knitting at the auxiliary block.

The leg loops are regulated by causin a cam 22 to become positioned under plunger 2| so that this plunger becomes a support for plunger I2 through screw I9. Then by turning screws 21 and 8a the main and auxiliary cam blocks respectively can be so positioned that the knitting of both will produce loops of identical length. Thereafter, any desired change in loop length can be secured by turning screw I9 without upsetting the balance obtained through screws 21 and 8a.

When reciprocatory knitting of the high splice and instep is begun, the cam 22 which has been supporting plunger 2| is removed and a cam I6 is brought into position under plunger II. Also wedge 26 is removed from between plunger I2 and screw 21. Therefore, the main cam plate is now supported by plunger I I through screw I3 by which the desired position of the main cam block for the high splice and foot may be obtained. The auxiliary cam block is now supported through plunger II, screw I5, projection 20, screw I9, plunger I2 and screw 8a. If any change in loop length in the instep as compared with the leg is required because of the shift from rotary to reciprocatory knitting, this can be effected through screw I5.

By this arrangement, the main and auxiliary cam blocks can be individually adjusted and both can be readjusted by turning a single screw. The main and auxiliary cam blocks can be independently adjusted by means of another single screw for each and each of these adjustments may remain unaffected by any of the others. In addition, only two plungers are required for these purposes instead of a minimum of three so that the capacity of the mechanism is increased.

In the appended claims the word support refers to elements having the functional purposes but not necessarily the forms of plungers II and I claim:

1. A stitch regulating mechanism for a circular, multi-feed, independent needle, knitting machine having independently movable knitting cam plates which includes a support for said plates, means for fixing the position of said support, individual means associated with said support for varying the positions of each of said plates in relation to said support, means intervening between said support and one of said varying means for raising said one of said varying means in relation to said support and means for removing said intervening means from between said support and said last mentioned varying means.

2. A stitch regulating mechanism for a'circular, multi-feed, independent needle, knitting machine having independently movable knitting cam plates which include a first support for said plates, individual means associated with said support for varying the positions of each of said plates in relation to said support, a second support, means for fixing the position of said second support and means on the first support so operatively associated with the second support that the position of said first support may be fixed by means of said second support.

3. A stitch regulating mechanism for a circular, multi-feed, independent needle, knitting machine according to claim 1 which includes means for variably fixing the position of said support.

4. A stitch regulating mechanism for a circular, multi-feed, independent needle, knitting machine according to claim 2 in which the means last mentioned therein is adjustable.

EUGENE ST. PIERRE.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Fregeolle Feb. 20, 1945 Number 

